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From: Ben Gallant
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 14:22:54 -0800
Subject: Bent Tone (was modes & Playing the Blues)

In regards to scale/mode practice improving bending and range, I heartily
agree with what's been said. But to change topics, something in Dan's post
reminded me of something I've been struggling with--getting smooth tone on
bent notes.

Dan writes:
>snip>
>When I learned the IV and V scales, I was forced to perfect the pitch of
the >start and stop points of each note within each bend. Bends I'd been
sloppy >with for years, I can now play with confidence and precision.

I've finally gotten so I feel confident hitting most bends relatively on
pitch when and where I want them, and do well using these notes as parts of
runs or in a bluesy way. The problem is holding bent notes with a tone
that doesn't make them glaringly obvious as bent notes. They sound sort of
dirty. Any thoughts on this beyond the ubiquitous
practice-practice-practice?

Ben

(BTW, I specifically have been practicing Summertime in 3rd position--that
bent 3 draw is the problem. Not only the end of a phrase, but a 5th)